Maniera Architect & Associates

The site in Takatsuka-chō is situated within a residential area at the southern foothills of Mount Rokkō, a historic locality within the Hanshin region particularly blessed with natural and geographical advantages.The site occupies a corner of this area, where the unique culture known as ‘Hanshin Modernism’—cultivated since the Meiji period by industrialists, artists, and cultural figures—still thrives.

This project is a reinforced concrete structure comprising one basement level and two above-ground storeys. As the site's ground level is 4 metres higher than the front road, access to the building is via the basement.Both the approach and the entrance hall feature a double-height space, creating an open, light-filled atmosphere despite being underground.Upon entering the approach, a timber-clad wall appears. This wall continues upwards, traversing the first-floor living-dining-kitchen area and extending to the stairwell on the second floor.This timber cladding is installed with a distinctive textured pattern, creating varied expressions through the interplay of natural and artificial light. This approach preserves the warmth inherent in the wood while allowing each area to develop its own character, resulting in a richly textured space.

The first-floor LDK adjoins a spacious south-facing terrace. Opening the 3.3m-wide sliding doors integrates the LDK and terrace into a single unified space.A planter approximately 10m long runs along the south side of the terrace, creating a space to enjoy seasonal plantings and activities like barbecues.Furthermore, a 1.8m wall encircling the terrace blocks horizontal sightlines. To address views from the apartment block, rather than roofing the terrace, a two-tiered cantilevered wall encircles the terrace's upper section from the second floor and roof slab. This ensures privacy while creating an open, sculptural space with a sense of openness to the sky.Furthermore, the floating walls encircling the terrace are deliberately offset. The gaps created by this offset allow fragmented light to filter through and wind to pass, imbuing the terrace with a sense of time within space.

Bordered by the kitchen, the north side features a spacious living area contrasted by human-scale, tranquil spaces: a study and a Japanese-style room. These rooms offer views of the serene north garden.The design allows one to enjoy spatial variation by coexisting on the same floor a spacious communal area and the tranquil northern spaces.

Externally, the three-storey structure is a box-shaped exposed concrete formwork. The basement level features uniform horizontal timber cladding from the gate to the garage. The first floor incorporates resin louvers covering the entire terrace parapet.From the second floor and roof slab, cantilevered beams support exposed concrete walls with cedar formwork, creating a floating screen.The unique exterior is formed by the interplay of three textures: the softness of wood, the delicacy of the louvers, and the solidity of the concrete, enhanced by the overflowing greenery from the terrace.